Blade sharpening device



, July 9, 1957 c. HERTEL 2,798,344

' BLADE SHARPENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15.1956

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HERIEL BY Gmmmw United States Patent BLADE SHARPENING DEVICE Carl Hertel, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application August 15, 1956, Serial No. 604,221

4 Claims. (Cl. 51-211) This invention relates generally to blade sharpening devices, and has particular reference to an improved device for manually sharpening or resharpening double edged razor blades and the like.

Various mechanical arrangements have been developed in the past to enable users of safety razor blades to sharpen the blades when they start to become dull. Many of these prior art developments, however, are rather complex structurally and thus are relatively expensive to manufacture, and some are quite complicated as to the method of operation. Accordingly, such devices in general have not met with widespread commercial acceptance since the blades themselves have not heretofore been very expensive and the average user has apparently found it just as economical and convenient to replace his dull blades with the brand new ones as to purchase a relatively expensive blade sharpener and attempt to resharpen the dull blades himself.

In recent years, however, razor blades, like many other steel products, have gradually increased in cost, and it is quite likely that this trend will continue. As a result of this situation, most users are becoming more interested in conserving blades and would like to be able to prolong their period of use by a convenient and effective resharpening means. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates and has as its primary object the provision of a blade sharpening or resharpening device which is inexpensive, simple to operate and yet performs its function in a highly efficient manner.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a blade sharpening device which is compact and of very simple construction.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a blade sharpening device which is extremely durable.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a blade sharpening device which reduces to a minimum the possibility of accidental injury to the hands during the sharpening operation.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a blade sharpening device wherein the blade to be sharpened may be easily engaged with and disengaged from the portion of the device which supports it during the sharpening operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a representative embodiment of the invention for the purpose of disclosure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hone assembly of a blade sharpening device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the hone assembly taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the blade sharpening device with a blade in sharpening position therein;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the blade carrier of the blade sharpening device in partially open position;

i atented July 9, 1957 Figure 5 is a top plan view of the blade carrier in fully open position; and

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the blade carrier in the closed or blade clamping position with a blade positioned therein.

Having reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers designate the same parts in each of the views, the invention comprises the combination of a hone assembly generally indicated at 10, and a blade carrier generally indicated at 11 which coacts with the hone assembly by supporting the blade in proper edge engagement therewith during sharpening. The hone assembly 10 includes a hone support 12 of some suitable material such as plastic or light metal and a pair of hone members 14 which are preferably formed of glass but may also be of stone, metal or leather treated to provide a fine abrasive surface.

Hone support 12 is formed with a relatively long, narrow central channel 15 and a pair of side wings 17 which extend outwardly and upwardly from the upper edges of the channel as best shown in Figures 1-3. The hone mem bers 14 are mounted on the upper surfaces of the wings 17, and the latter are provided with narrow, upstanding flanges 18 at their outer side edges and two end edges against which corresponding edges of the hone members are adapted to abut. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the bone members are strips of plate glass, and interposed between these strips and the wings 17 are thin strips 20 of some resilient cushioning material such as rubber, Figure 2. Preferably, the resilient strips are adhesively secured to the wings, and the hone members are adhesively secured to the strips. To this end, a commercially available double coated adhesive rubber strip may be used for this purpose.

The side wings 17 are upwardly inclined at a predetermined angle from the horizontal so that the cutting edges of the blade being sharpened will engage the hone members 14 at the proper angle of incidence for sharpening in the most elfective manner. Since a slight pressure is exerted on the blade during sharpening, it may be desirable when the hone support is formed of plastic to reinforce the wings by means of one or more ribs 21 extending between the central channel 15 and underside of each wing, see Figure 2. However, if the hone support is formed of metal, the ribs 21 will not normally be necessary.

The blade carrier 11, Figures 4-6, comprises a pair of substantially identical plastic or metal members 22 formed with flat confronting faces 24 between which a blade 25 may be clamped. The members 22 are hinged together at one end as by a hinge 26 and are spread apart as shown in Figure 5 to permit insertion of the blade and then folded together to clamp the blade in position as shown in Figures 4 and 6. One of the members 22 is provided with short, outwardly projecting lugs 27 on its face 24, which lugs are received in the usual slot in the blade to properly position the latter on the carrier. These lugs ex tend into complemental bores 28 in the face of the other member when the members are folded into blade clamping position.

At its end opposite the hinge 26, one of the members 22 is provided with a spring metal clip or clasp 30 which is adapted to engage in a notch 31 in the opposite member to releasably secure the members together in blade clamping position. A small lug or projection 32 may also be formed on one or both of the members to facilitate their release from blade clamping position against the spring action of the clasp.

Each of the blade carrier members 22 is formed with a centrally disposed, outwardly projecting rib 34, which ribs are disposed at substantially right angles to the confronting faces 24. These ribs are adapted to be alternately positioned in the bone support channel to guide the carrier for reciprocable movement relative to the bone assembly which is considerably longer than the blade rrier. The hone .assemhlyiaadapted .to .be held .in one hand and the blade carrier with a blade therein in the other hand. When the parts are brought together -to position the carrier in the hone assemblyas shown in Figure v3, the edges on one side of the blade engage the hone members 14 and a quick reciprocable movement of the carrier under slight pressure will eifect the sharpening action. After the edges on one side of the blade have been sharpened, the carrier is simply turned end for end and the process repeatedto sharpen the edges on the other side.

From the foreging description, it will be apparent that the invention provides a novel and highly useful blade sharpening device having a simple, inexpensive construction and simplified mode of operation. The blades to be sharpened can be inserted in or removed from the blade carrier by simply snapping the two hinged members into open and shut position, and a brisk reciprocable motion for but a few seconds on each'side of the blade sharpens the edges thereof in a highly effective and satisfactory manner. Since the hone support side wings extend outwardly a considerable distance beyond the blade edges, the possibility of cutting the fingers of the hand holding the hone support is reduced to a minimum.

This invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sharpening device :for razor blades or the like comprising in combination a unitary hone support having a relatively narrow centrally disposed vertical channel and a pair of side wings extending outwardly at oblique angles from the upper edges of saidchannel, a pair of hone members respectively mounted on the upper surfaces of said wings,- resilient cushioning means interposed between said members and said upper surfaces, and a blade carrier having a pair of oppositely disposed narrow vertical ribs alternately receivable in said support channel to guide said carrier during reciprocable movement with the .edges of the blade in engagement with said hone members, said blade carrier including a pair of substantially identical hinged members between which the blade is clamped.

2. A sharpening device for razor blades or the like comprising in combination a unitary hone support having a substantially Y-shaped cross section formed by a rela- 4 tively narrow centrally disposed vertical channel and a pair of side wings extending outwardly at predetermined oblique angles from the upper edges of said channel, strips of resilient cushioning material mounted on the upper surfaces of said Wings, flat hone members mounted on said cushioning strips in parallel relation to the wings, and a blade carrier including a pair ,of substantially identical mating members having fiat confronting faces between which the 'blade may be clamped, said members being hinged together at one end and having clasping means at the other end to hold the members together when the blade is positioned .therebetween, each of said mating members having a narrow vertical rib opposite the blade clamping surface thereof, said ribs being alternately receivable in said hone support channel to guide said carrier for reciprocable movement with the edges of the blade in engagement with said hone members.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said hone members are adhesively secured to said cushioning strips and said strips areadhesively secured to said side wings.

4. A sharpening device for razor blades or the like comprising in combination a .unitary hone support having a generally Y-shaped cross sectionformed by a vertical leg adapted to be held in the hand of the user and a pair of side wings extending upwardly at predetermined oblique angles from the upper edges of the leg, said verticalleg having a narrow, vertically disposed channel intermediate said side wings, the depth of said channel being several times greater than the width thereof, strips of resilient cushioning material mounted on the upper surface of said wings, flat hone members mounted on said cushioning stripsin parallel relation to the wings, and a blade carrierincluding a pair of substantially identical hinged mating members having flat confronting faces between which the blade may be clamped, each of said mating members having a relatively high, narrow vertical rib opposite the blade clamping surface thereof, said ribs being alternately receivable in said narrow hone support channel to guide said carrier for reciprocable movement with the edges of the blade in engagement with said hone members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,540,078 Long June 2, 1925 1,958,308 Lawrence May 8, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 124,793 Australia July 17, 1947 258,777 Germany Apr. 17, 1913 345,551 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1931 

